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Struggling with the night last night I understood the “cares of this world” a little better. It is not always the big things that burden us. Sometimes it is just the “living of the life” that is such a struggle. The busy-ness of work and play that keep your mind on other things. Groggy days that lower your concentration The influence of worldly actions and events. Things like being so tired at bed time that you fall asleep saying your prayers or even before your say them. Or waking up late in the morning and having to rush to get the day started…. short prayer and without much feeling. Or maybe the day is filled with many short prayers that just keep you going through the day because you are too busy to stop long enough to really meditate on God’s Word. All these little things that can keep your “spirit” choked up.

Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Mar 4:18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,Mar_4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Brother Elmer Morgan wrote a insightful book on prayer, that I have kept through the years to re-read because it helps me keep my prayer life just a little better. "Hear Me When I Call".

truth Has Fallen On Hard Times

By Tom Wacaster

Pilate
asked, “What is truth?” Perhaps some of our Senate investigations of
the past few years have been tempted to ask the same question. Today’s
headline reveals that former F.B.I director Comey is about to be called
back to the witness stand because, among other things, his previous
testimony simply does not harmonize with the facts. This past
Presidential campaign featured two candidates from the leading political
parties, both of which said candidates have been caught in numerous
exaggerations, half-truths, and out and out lies. Senate investigative
committees are kept busy trying to separate fact from fiction and truth
from lies. Much of the dishonesty, lying and cover-up that has plagued
our nation, especially in politics but not limited thereto, has put a
damper on any desire on the part of the populace to know the truth
and/or the ability of some to tell the truth. It is a fact, however,
that truth is truth, and all the lying and cover-up will not change a
lie into truth. Someone observed: “The truth cannot be burned, beheaded,
or crucified. A lie on the throne is still a lie, and truth in a
dungeon is still truth.” Yes, truth has fallen on hard times.

I
wish I could say that the lies, half truths, and false testimony was
limited to politicians. However, such is not the case. Not far removed
from the politicians are those religious shysters who dupe and delude
the innocent by their fair and smooth speech, contributing to the
misconception that truth is vague and unattainable. One so-called
theological “scholar” will tell you one thing, and across the street or
down the block another “pastor,” “priest,” or “potentate” will tell you
exactly the opposite, with all of them claiming they have discovered
some previously unknown “truth” (though they seldom call it that). Is it
any wonder that some prominent theologians are declaring that truth is
unattainable, and that even if attained, it is constantly changing? Such
self proclaimed “wisdom” is really nothing more than “sophisticated
silliness.” It would be bad enough if the religious leaders of our
nation’s thousands of denominations were the only ones spewing out such
nonsense. Unfortunately some of our own once faithful brethren are
parroting the denominational leaders of a corrupt and bankrupt religious
system that has captured the minds of the unbelieving. This generation
has been fed the notion that there is no truth for so long that they
actually believe it to be the truth. Dear reader, can you not see the
foolishness in such reasoning? Oh yes—truth has fallen on hard times. If
there is no truth, then any affirmation that there is no truth cannot
itself be true - seeing there is no truth. The American people, due in
part to their gullibility and in large measure to their ignorance, have
bought this notion that truth is some mystic, far away, unreachable
ideology, and consequently they have long since abandoned any serious
search for truth. We have left it up to the “preachers” to do the
searching for us, and we act shocked when these “religious racketeers”
take us to the cleaners.

Some
years ago I had the opportunity to play a round of golf with a brother
in Christ who lived in South Africa and who was an avid golfer; I’m
talking pro-golf quality. After we teed off of the first green, I felt
intimidated. That feeling persisted until we had golfed another
seventeen holes and my “bragging rights” had been properly put in their
place. I repeatedly told my fellow golfer that he had me at a distinct
disadvantage. Were he and I to play before an audience, to whom do you
think the audience would pay the closest attention? To ask is to answer.

Now
ask yourself this question. In a world where truth has fallen on hard
times, and where men and women are, without doubt, looking for
something—anything—better, if we present the truth in its beauty and
simplicity it will so far outshine the error that permeates our society
that the difference would stand out like the bright noonday sun held up
to a small candle. Our Lord affirmed, “Ye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Within our Lord’s affirmation
are two inherent facts: (1) Truth is absolute. It is interesting that
our Lord did not say, “Ye shall know what you THINK to be the truth, and
what you THINK shall make you free.” Nor did He say that “you shall
honestly follow your opinion, and your opinion shall make you free.”
Truth is truth. If I am ignorant of truth, or if I reject the truth, it
does not make it any less the truth. (2) Our Lord’s statement also
implies that truth is attainable. “Ye shall know” is a clear
affirmation that it is possible to know! Words cannot be any clearer.
It may require hard study on my part, but truth is attainable. If it is
not possible to come to a knowledge of truth then our Lord’s statement
is of no value whatsoever.

Seeing, therefore, that the truth is
available, attainable, and advantageous, why don’t we quit being
discouraged over the title wave of the lies that have become so much a
part of our corrupt culture, get on with searching out the truth for
ourselves, and then start shouting it from the rooftops? Therein is
freedom. Therein is life.